Agent for the post-treatment of washed laundry

ABSTRACT

Compositions for the posttreatment of washed laundry, the same being adapted for addition to the rinse water either as a solid or in liquid form comprising a softening agent corresponding to the following formula: ALONE OR IN COMBINATION WITH A SOFTENING AGENT CORRESPONDING TO THE FOLLOWING FORMULA: WHEREIN R1 is alkyl containing 10 to 22 carbon atoms and may be interrupted by ether oxygen atoms in the vicinity of the NH2 group, R2 is alkyl containing seven to 21 carbon atoms, the total number of carbon atoms contained in R1 and R2 amounting to from 23 to 39, n is either 3 or 4 and Z is either THE POLYHYDROXYL RADICALS PRESENT IN THE COMPOUNDS I and II may be etherified with additional polyhydroxylalleyl radicals. The aforesaid softening agent (I) or agents (I and II) can be employed per se or in combination with other conventional laundry agents such as optical brighteners, deacidifiers, disincrusting agents, colorants, perfumes, antimicrobial agents, etc.

Primary Eicdminer l-lerbert B. Guynn United States Patent Heins et al.

[ 1 Feb. 22, 1972 [54] AGENT FOR THE POST-TREATMENT OF WASHED LAUNDRY[72] Inventors: Arnold Heins, Hilden/Rhineland; Hans- Werner Eckert;Horst Bellinger, both of S 2 qqrftellei stm nxw .1 [73] Assignee: Henkel& Cie GmbH, Dusseldorf- Holthausen, Germany [22] Filed: July 10, 1968[21] Appl. No.: 743,610

[30] Foreign Application Priority Data Aug. 14, 1967 Germany ..H 63600[52] U.S.Cl. ..252/8.8, 117/47 R, 117/66, 117/139 SF, 1l7/139.5 CQ,252/8.6, 252/89 [51] Int. Cl. ..D06m 13/40 [58] Field ofSearch..252/8.8, 152, 137; 117/139 SF, 117/47 R [56] References Cited UNITEDSTATES PATENTS 2,002,613 5/1935 Orthner et a1 ..252/8.8 X 2,334,852ll/l943 Weisberg et a1. ..252/8.8 X 3,122,502 2/1964 Waldman ..252/8.83,349,033 10/1967 Zuccarelli ....252/8.75 3,356,526 12/1967 Waldman etal. 17/100 3,424,680 1/1969 Van Loo et a1. ..252/8.8 3,454,494 7/1969Clark et a1. ..252/8.8

AttorneyBurgess, Dinklage & Sprung [57] ABSTRACT Compositions for theposttreatment of washed laundry, the same being adapted for addition tothe rinse water either as a solid or in liquid form comprising asoftening agent corresponding to the following formula:

wherein R, is alkyl containing 10 to 22 carbon atoms and may beinterrupted by ether oxygen atoms in the vicinity of the NH group, R isalkyl containing seven to 21 carbon atoms, the total number of carbonatoms contained in R. and R amounting to from 23 to 39. n is either 3 or4 and i ith the polyhydroxyl radicals present in the compounds 1 and llmay be etherified with additional polyhydroxylalkyl radicals. Theaforesaid softening agent (I) or agents (1 and 11) can be employed perse or in combination with other conventional laundry agents such asoptical brighteners, deacidifiers, disincrusting agents, colorants,perfumes, antimi il aielesw z te- 8 Claims, No Drawings AGENT FOR THEPOST-TREATMENT OF WASHED LAUNDRY This invention relates to softeningagents for use in the postor in an industrial laundry.

This undesirable loss of good feel in the laundering process can beavoided if cationic substances are added to the final rinse, whichsubstances contain at least two fatty radicals of high molecular weightin their molecules. in practice, dialkyl dimethyl ammonium salts thatare dispersable in water have become popular for this purpose, each ofthe two alkyl radicals in this latter compound contains 16 to 18 carbonatoms. These cationic softening agents are usually marketed in the formof their aqueous dispersions.

Although when these cationic softening agents are used in the finalrinse the undesirable hardness is not found in the laundry after drying,the use of these products entails certain disadvantages. if thedetergent dissolved in the final wash has not been entirely removed fromthe clothing, which may be the case, particularly in tub-type washingmachines, precipitates are formed between the cationic softening agentsand the anionic wash-active substances, thereby diminishing orobstructing the softening effect. Furthermore, these precipitates canthemselves be deposited on the fibers and cause yellowing of thelaundered items. Furthermore, the absorbency of the washed goods isadversely affected by the softening agents as known in the prior art.Even in the case of drum-type washing machines, in which the rinsingaction is generally better than it is in tub-type machines, a reductionof the absorbency of the posttreated clothing can be observed,apparently because small amounts of the anionic wash-active substancesare fixed on the fibers and then react with the cationic softeningagents.

In U.S. Pat. application Ser. No. 656,136 there are describedpreparations for use in the posttreatment of washed laundry, whichcontain as textile-softening agent compounds having the followingformula:

wherein R, represents an alkyl radical having to 22, preferably 12 to 20and most preferably 16 to 18 carbon atoms, R represents an alkyl radicalhaving seven to 21, preferably H to 19, and most preferably l5 to 17carbon atoms, and n is either of the whole numbers 3 or 4, furtherwherein the alkyl radical R, can be interrupted by an ether oxygen atomin the vicinity of the NH group, and the sum of the carbon atomscontained in R, and R amounts to from 23 to 39, preferably from 27 to35. These softening agents can be employed in the treatment of washedtextiles, alone or together with other conventional laundryposttreatment agents, such as acidifiers or disincrusting agents,optical brighteners and/or heavy metal-free, nonoxidizing, watersolubleantimicrobial agents, as well as surfactants provided that the quantityof surfactants present does not exceed that of the textile-softeningagent.

In. U.S. Pat. application Ser. No. 749,596, now pending preparations aredisclosed corresponding to the above but additionally containing atleast one heavy metal-free, nonoxidizing, water-soluble antimicrobialagent. The antimicrobial agents can include zwitter-ionic surfactants,but in this case, the quantity of zwitter-ionic surfactants is alwaysless than that of the textile-softening agent present.

It is an object of this invention to eliminate the disadvantages of theprior art methods of posttreating laundry by the provision of a new andimproved softening agent.

It is an additional object of the invention to provide laundryposttreatment agents which contain the active softening agent of theinvention in a form designed for easy and practical use.

These and other objects and advantages of the invention will becomeapparent from a further consideration of the following disclosure.

According to the invention it has now been found that laundry treated,after washing, with an aqueous solution or dispersion of a softeningagent, in solid or liquid form corresponding to the following formula:

alone or in combination with a softening agent corresponding to thefollowing formula:

wherein R, is alkyl containing 10 to 22 carbon atoms and may beinterrupted by ether oxygen atoms in the vicinity of the NH, group, R isalkyl containing seven to 21 carbon atoms, the total number of carbonatoms contained in R, and R amounting to from 23 to 39, n is either 3 or4, and Z is either wherein the polyhydroxyl radicals present in thecompounds I and Il may be etherified with additional polyhydroxyalkylradicals. The radical Z may be a glycerylamine or a polyglycerylaminehaving two to 15 and preferably two to five glyceryl radicals in theirmolecules. The compounds of Formula I will hereinafter be calledglycerylamides" for the sake of simplicity. The aforesaid softeningagent (l) or agents (l and H) can be employed per se or in combinationwith other conventional laundry agents such as optical brighteners,deacidifiers, disincrusting agents, colorants, perfumes, antimicrobialagents, etc.

The textile-softening agents present in the preparations of theinvention consist of from 10 to 100 percent by weight, and preferably tofrom 20 to 100 percent by weight, of compounds of Formula I, and of fromO to 90 percent by weight, and preferably of from 0 to percent by weightof compounds of Formula ll.

The textiles rinsed with these products have, after drying, not only ahigh degree of fullness and softness, but they also possess excellentabsorbency. Furthermore, the softening agents of the invention are quitecompatible with an ionic optical brightening agent. If any of theabove-mentioned antimicrobial agents are used, not only are any microbesthat might be present in the washed textiles or in the rinse waterkilled, but in many instances antimicrobial properties are conferredupon the posttreated textiles.

The preparation of the polyglycerylamides is described in U.S. Pat.application Ser. No. 743,595, now abandoned, i.e., by reacting an amineR,Nl-l wherein R, is as defined before with a member selected from thegroup of polyglycerin-l,2- monochlorhydrin glyceringlycide ethers andpolyglycerin glycide ethers and thereafter acylating the resultingsecondary amine with a member selected from the group consisting ofhalides, anhydrides and esters of a carboxylic acid R COOH wherein RR isas defined before.

The polyhydroxylalkyl radicals present in the textile softeners ofFormula ll can be derived from hexoses, particularly monosaccharides,such as glucose, mannose, galactose, fructose, sorbose, or theirmixtures, as for example, invert sugar;

however, they also can be derived from their oligomers such as maltose.The polyhydroxyalkyl radicals can also be derived from pentose, mixturesof various pentoses or mixtures of pentoses and hexoses. The glycamidesare of particular practical interest and accordingly this term shall beused hereinafter to designate all of the compounds of Formula II.

The alkyl radicals of the amines from which the textile sof teners to beused according to the invention can be prepared can, similar to theradicals of the amidelike bound fatty acids, be saturated orunsaturated, straight chained or branched, and of synthetic or naturalorigin. Accordingly, the radicals R can be derived from decyl, lauryl,myristyl, cetyl, stearyl, oleyl, arachyl or behenyl amine. The carbonchains of these alkyl radicals can also be interrupted by an etheroxygen atom in the vicinity of the nitrogen atom, preferably betweencarbon atoms 2 and 3 or 3 and 4 (counting from the nitrogen atom).

The fatty acid radicals R CO can be derived from capric acid, lauric,myristic, palmitic, stearic, oleic, arachic or behenic acid. Textilesofteners can also be used in which the amine radicals and/or the fattyacid radicals are present as isomer mixtures, as they are, for example,in fats and oils of natural origin. Accordingly, the radicals R and R COcan be derived from the fats and oils of plants, land or marine animals,such as for example, coconut oil, palm oil, linseed oil, cottonseed oil,peanut oil, castor oil, etc., hog lard, tallow or fish or whale oils, orfrom fractions of the fatty acids contained in these fats. The aforesaidradicals are to be preferably of a substantially saturated nature.

The preparations for use as laundry posttreatment agents according tothe invention can be in the form of liquids, pastes or solids (such aspowders, flakes, beads and the like), in which the textile softeners arefinely divided. The carrier substances or solvents or diluents, as thecase may be, are required to be readily soluble in water and morespecifically must be capable of rapidly dissolving in the washing mediumafter the preparation has been added to the rinse water, and so that adispersion of the finely divided textile softening agents in the rinsewater will be obtained in a short time. The concentration as requiredfor use amounts generally to about 0.05 to 2 g./l. and preferably to 0.1to 0.5 g./l.

The posttreatment agents can be used already in the first rinse, even ifthe residues of the detergent solution have not as yet been completelyrinsed out from the laundry. Since it is an established practice to addthe softening agent to the final rinse, the same practice can of coursebe followed when using the posttreatment agents according to theinvention.

After the rinse, the wet laundry can be dried in the conventionalmanner. The dry laundry is soft and full, and has a pleasant feel, whichis readily apparent, particularly in the case of those articles whichcome in contact with the skin, such as underclothing, bed linens andhandkerchiefs. Bath towels in particular show a remarkably goodabsorbency. Dish towels which have been laundered as above also showthis particularly satisfactory absorbency. Further, the damp laundrysoft-rinsed according to the invention yields its moisture more rapidlyin drying than laundered articles which have not been postrinsed withthe preparations according to the invention. Still further, thelaundered articles thus treated iron more easily than the same articlesnot so treated.

The solid carrier substances which are included in the compositionsaccording to the invention are water-soluble inorganic or organicsubstances having a weakly alkaline, neutral or weakly acid reaction. Inthe manufacture of solid preparations, there are most advantageouslyemployed inorganic or organic salts, as for example, the alkali salts ofsulfuric acid or orthoor pyrophosphoric acid. Salts of organic acids,however, are also suitable such as for instance the nonsurface activesalts of carboxylic acids or oxycarboxylic acids having one to andpreferably one to six carbon atoms, such as for example salts of aceticacid, propionic acid, lactic acid, citric acid, tartaric acid, etc. Inaddition, water-soluble inorganic or organic acid amides or their saltsmay be employed as solid diluents. These include, for example,amidosulfonic acid salts,

amidophosphonic acid salts and water-soluble amides of carboxylic acids,such as urea, acetamide and the like. Solid polyethylene glycols canalso be advantageously employed as carrier substances.

The solid posttreatment agents can be prepared, for example, by sprayinga solution or dispersion of the textile softener in a suitable liquidonto the finely divided carrier substances present in the solid state.It is also possible, however, to atomized aqueous solutions orsuspensions of the textile softeners containing dissolved or dispersedcarrier substances, thereby directly obtaining a readily soluble powderor granular product. Still further, solutions or dispersions of thetextile softeners in molten urea or in molten polyethylene glycols canbe atomized or otherwise converted into readily soluble powder orgranular products.

In the preparation of liquid, aqueous concentrates, the textilesofteners which are moderately soluble in water are dispersed in anaqueous liquid or in an organic solvent. It is advantageous to firstdissolve the textile softeners in a suitable water-soluble organicsolvent and to thereafter combine the solutions thus obtained withwater, whereupon the solid textile softeners separate in finely dividedform, the organic solvent serving as solubilizer. The resultant aqueousdispersions can, of course, contain any of the abovemamed solid carriersubstances in solution, unless the stability of the dispersion bethereby adversely affected. In many cases, however, the stability iseven improved. Urea, acetamide and the alkali salts of lower carboxylicacids or oxycarboxylic acids containing up to six carbon atoms aresuitable for this purpose. The latter substances can be used in place ofor together with water-soluble organic solvents, which then can serve assolubilizers. Soluble salts, of aromatic or alkylaromatic sulfonic acidshaving six to 10 carbon atoms can also be advantageously used in thisconnection.

Examples of suitable organic solvents include for example, monovalent orpolyvalent alcohols having one to four carbon atoms, or ether alcohols,for instance, the monoethers formed from the aforesaid monovalentalcohols with ethylene glycol, diethylene glycol, propylene glycol,butylene glycol, or the monoor diethers formed from the aforesaidmonovalent al cohols with glycerin. The textile softeners areadditionally soluble in water-soluble lower ketones.

In accordance with the invention any of the conventional dispersing andemulsifying agents or emulsion stabilizers can be added for effectingthe stabilization of the aqueous dispersions.

Anionic or nonionic surfactants, the action of which is based on thesimultaneous presence of a hydrophobic and a hydrophilic radical intheir molecule are suitable as dispersing or emulsifying agents. Thehydrophobic radical generally consists of an alkyl group having eight to20 and preferably 12m 18 carbon atoms. Anionic or nonionic groups aresuitable as hydrophilic radicals. As anionic groups there may bementioned carboxyl, sulfonic acid or sulfuric acid semiester groups, andas nonionic groups polyhydroxyalkyl radicals or polyethylene etherchains. Accordingly, alkylbenzenesulfonates, fatty alcohol sulfates,fatty alcohol glycol ether sulfates having one to five ethylene glycolether radicals in their molecules, fatty acid monoglycerides,polyethylene glycol ethers of fatty alcohols or alkyl phenols havingfive to 20 ethylene glycol ether radicals in their molecules aresuitable as dispersing and emulsifying agents. The quantity of thesesurfactants, however, is required to always amount to less than thequantity of the textile softeners, and preferably it is to besubstantially less, not exceeding 50 percent and preferably amounting tofrom 5 to 25 percent of the quantity of the textile softeners.

Suitable emulsion stabilizers include the water-soluble colloids, suchas the salts of ether carboxylic acids or ether sulfonic acids ofcellulose, cellulose sulfate, polyacrylic acid or polymethacrylic acidsalts, water-soluble polyacrylamides and polyethylene glycols,preferably those having a molecular weight greater than 600.

Many of these emulsion stabilizers produce a great increase in theviscosity of the aqueous solutions, and therefore they are used inquantities of less than 2 percent and preferably of less than 1 percentso that the posttreatment agents will still be readily flowable orpourable in nature. Others, particularly the polyethylene glycols, canbe used in substantially greater quantities, without raising theviscosity to undesirable levels.

The softening agents according to the invention and the compositionscontaining such softening agents can advantageously be combined withother substances which have heretofore been used as posttreatmentagents. These include, for example, optical brighteners, deacidifyingand disincrusting agents, colorants, perfumes, heavy metal-free,nonoxidizing antimicrobial agents, etc. These substances can beincorporated into the solid or liquid posttreatment agents according tothe invention.

The combined use of the above-described softening agents with opticalbrighteners is to be considered as an important and novel feature of theinvention. The brighteners are intended mainly for cellulose fibers, butbrighteners for cellulose and/or other fibers, especially syntheticfibers, can be used as well. For example, the following types ofbrighteners can be used:

Suitable additives for deacidification and/or for the removal of ash orother fiber incrustations include the nonoxidizing acids which have beenfound to be not harmful to the fibers to be treated and particularlythose additives which form soluble alkaline earth salts, and complexcompound formers. The acid reacting substances include for exampleamidosulfuric acid, urea compounds of orthophosphoric acid or solid orliquid organic acid like citric acid. The complex compound formersinclude for example tripolyphosphates or the higher but still watersoluble polyphosphates of alkalies, nitrilotriacetic acid,ethylenediamine tetracetic acid, N-oxyethylethylenediaminetriacetic acidand other conventional organic complex compound forming agents, such asthe salts of certain di-, trior tetraphosphonic acids.

The term antimicrobial agents as used herein is understood to mean bothbactericidal and bacteriostatic, and fungicidal and/or fungistaticproducts. The antimicrobial agents are required to be water solubleeither per se or in the form of their salts. Examples of suitableantimicrobial agents for use herein are formaldehyde, halogenatedphenols, nitrated monoor polyalcohols, and antimicrobial surfactants. Ifthe antimicrobial agents are zwitter-ionic surfactants, their quantityis required to be less than the quantity of the textile-sofsalts oftening agent and preferably the quantity of zwitter-ionic surface-activeantimicrobial agent amounts to no more than 50 percent of the quantityof the textile softening agent.

As instances of halogenated phenols which may be used as antimicrobials,there may be mentioned, for example, chlorination and brominationproducts of phenol, such as pentachlorophenol, and also halogenatedcresols, xylenols, such as 4-bromo-3,5-xylenol or halogenatedcyclohexylphenols, methylcyclohexylphenols or benzylphenols.

There may also be used the water-solubleantimicrobial substances of thecationic or hybrid (zwitter) ionic surfactant type, which serve in thefinal posttreatment agents also as dispersing agents. 1

lnstances of cationic substances which are suitable as antimicrobialsinclude quaternary ammonium compounds which contain on the nitrogen atomthereof an aliphatic hydrocarbon radical containing eight to l8, andpreferably 10 to 14 carbon atoms, or alternatively contain on thenitrogen atom at least one aromatic radical or a radical having doublebonds, the latter radical being linked to the nitrogen atom by analiphatic carbon atom. The following are instances of the cationiccompounds suitable for use in the invention include:diethylbenzyldodecyl ammonium chloride, diethylbenzyloctyl ammoniumchloride, and dibutylallyl, methylethylbenzyl,

ethylcyclohexylallyl and ethylcrotyldiethylaminoethyl dodecyl ammoniumchloride.

There are also tertiary amines suitable for use which can be prepared bycondensing a primary or secondary amine containing up to four basicnitrogen atoms and one aliphatic or alkylaromatic radical having eightto 18 and preferably eight to 14 aliphatic carbon atoms with a phenol orlower aliphatic aldehyde, preferably formaldehyde or acetaldehyde. Thephenol employed in the condensation reaction may have in its molecule aplurality of sites capable of condensation, and these may be substitutedwith lower alkyl, alkoxy or benzyl radicals containing up to 4 carbonatoms. The phenol, alkyl, alkoxy and benzyl radicals may additionally besubstituted with chlorine or bromine atoms and/or with nitro groups.Examples of such condensation products include, for instance, thefollowing compounds: oxybenzyloctylamine, oxybenzyldodecyldiethylenetriamine, (2-oxy-5-chloro-6-methylbenzyl)-dodecyldiethylenetriamine,(2-oxy-5-methylbenzyl)-octyldiethyl-enetriamine,(2-oxy-5-chloro-4,fi-dimethylbenzyl)-octyldiethylene-triamine,(tris-oxybenzyl )-dodecyltn'ethylenetriamine,o,o-bis-(tetradecylaminomethyl)-phenol,(octyl-diethylenetriaminomethyl)-p-cresol,o,o-bis-(dodecyldiethylenetriaminomethyl)-p-chloro-m-cresol, 7mmbis(dodecyldiethylenetriarninomethyl)-p-oxybenzoic acid,2,2-bis-p-oxy-m,m-di-(dodecyldiethylenetriaminomethyl)- phenolpropane,o,o-bis-(dodecyldiethylenetriaminomethyl)- p-nitrophenol,o,o-bis-(dodecylpropylenediaminomethyl)-pchloro-m,m-dimethylphenol, etc.The aforesaid tertiary amine compounds have a weakly acid reactinghydroxyl group and thus represent an intermediate type between thepurely cationic and the hybrid (zwitter)-ionic surfactants. 1

The hybrid or zwitter ionic surfactants which have achieved particularimportance as antimicrobials include compounds of the aminocarboxylicacid, polyaminocarboxylic acid and betaine type. i

Illustrative of the aminocarboxylic and polyaminocarboxylic acidantimicrobial agents are compounds having the following structuralformula:

wherein R, represents an alkyl or alkylaryl radical of high molecularweight, preferably such a hydrocarbon radical having six to 18 and mostpreferably eight to 14 aliphatic carbon atoms, R represents an ethyleneor propylene radical, x 20 represents a whole number of from one to sixand R represents an aliphatic-aromatic or aromatic bridge having one tosix carbon atoms. The following compounds are illustrative ofaminocarboxylic and polyaminocarboxylic compounds having theabove-mentioned formula: dodecylaminopropy[glycine,tetradecylaminoethyl-B-alanine, dodecyl-di-(aminoethyl)-glycine,dodecylaminoisopropylaminomethylsalicyclic acid,hexadecyl-tri-(aminoethyl)-B-aminobutyric acid,dodecylbenzylaminopropyl-B-alanine, octylphenoxyethyl-di-(aminoethyl)-glycine, dodecylaminoethylphenylalanine,dodecylaminoethylaminobenzoic acid, etc.

The radical R can also be interrupted by an ether oxygen atom, as is thecase, for example, in the following compounds:dodecyloxypropylaminopropionic acid, lauryl-l,3-oxypropyl-B-aminobutyric acid, C, -alkyloxyethylaminoacetic acid, dodecyll,2-0xypropylaminomethylsalicylic acid, octylphenoxyethylaminobenzoicacid.

The compounds that can be used according to the invention furthermoreinclude carboxybetaines of the formula:

I which can be used both in the betaine form, i.e., in the form of innersalts, and in the form of acidic or basic salts. R has the same meaningas in the preceding formula, R represents an ethylene or propylenegroup, and R and R represent aliphatic radicals of low molecular weight,R represents an aliphatic bridge of low molecular weight, X an etheroxygen atom or the CONH group. Examples of such carboxybetaine compoundsare lauryl-l,3-amidopropyldimethylaminoacetic acid,lauryloxyethyl-di-(hydroxyethyl)- aminoacetic acid, etc.

If the posttreatment agents according to the invention are in the formof solid products, they advantageously have the following composition:

70-5%, preferably 30-10%, by weight, textile softeners 3095%, preferably70-90%, by weight, solid carrier substance 0-20%, preferably 1l5%, byweight, optical brighteners, most preferably a quantity amounting tofrom 5 to 25% of the quantity of the textile softener used.

030%, preferably l-l5%, by weight, surface active dispersing oremulsifying agents, although the quantity thereof must always be lessthan the quantity of the textile softener, preferably no more than 50%,and most preferably 5 to 25% of the quantity of the textile softener. 70

02%, preferably 01-10%, by weight, emulsion stabilizers or thickeningagents, the quantity, however, not exceeding an amount whereby a 10%aqueous solution or dispersion of the entire solid preparation willstill be a free-flowing liquid.

And, if desired,

05-20%, preferably 120%, by weight, of the above-named antimicrobialagents; wherein if these agents are antimicrobial, zwitter-ionicsurfactants, their quantity is always to be smaller than the quantity oftextile softener, amounting preferably to no more than 50%, and mostpreferably to 5 to 25%, of the quantity of the textile softener.

If the post-treatment agents according to the invention are in the formof liquid preparations, they advantageously have the followingcomposition:

2-30%, preferably 515%, by weight, textile softeners 0-50%, preferably5-30% by weight, solid water-soluble hydrotropic substance and/orwater-soluble organic solvent.

0-l0%, preferably 0-5%, by weight, surface active emulsifying ordispersing agent, this quantity always to be smaller than the quantityof the textile softener, and preferably amounting to no more than 50%,and most preferably to 5 to 25%, by weight, of the quantity thereof.

010%, preferably l8%, by weight, optical brighteners, most preferably aquantity as to amount to 5 to 25% of the quantity of the textilesoftener.

020%, preferably 01-10%, by weight, water-soluble emulsion stabilizer orthickening agent, but not to exceed an amount whereby the preparation isno longer an easyflowing liquid.

and, if desired:

05-30%, preferably 120%, by weight, of the above-named antimicrobialagents; and if they are antimicrobial zwitter-ionic surfactants, theirquantity is always to be less than the quantity of the textile softener,preferably no more than 50% and most preferably to 5 to 25% of thequantity thereof.

Remainder water and/or water-soluble organic solvent.

To illustrate the marfner in which the invention may be carried out, thefollowing Examples are given. It is to be understood, however, that theExamples showing products of the invention are for the purpose ofillustration and the invention is not to be regarded as limited to anyof the specific materials or conditions recited therein.

The Examples described a number of liquid laundry posttreatment agents.The polyglycerylamide derivative has three CH CHOHCH O radicals permolecule. The ethoxylated dimethyl polysiloxane incorporated into anumber of preparations as an emulsifier is marketed by WackerchemieGmbH, Munich, under the trade name DC 202.

All percentages are percentages by weight.

EXAMPLE 1 5% glucamide R =C, C, mixture of tallow fatty acid, averageapproxi- 30% ethylene glycol monoethyl ether 2% nonylphenol plus 9.5ethoxyl 5 8% water EXAMPLE 2 5% glucamide R,=C, H R C H 5%dihydroxypropylamide as described in Example 1 30% ethylglycolmonoethylether 2% nonylphenol plus 9.5 ethoxyl 5 8% water EXAMPLE 3 10%polyglyceryl amide R,=C, C,,, mixture of coconut fatty acid, averageapproximately C R =C, -C mixture of tallow fatty acid, averageapproximately C Combined total approximately 29 carbon atoms. ethyleneglycol monoethylether 4% nonylphenol plus 9.5 ethoxyl 66% water EXAMPLE4 58% water EXAMPLE 5 8% glucamide R, H OC H Total 34 carbon atoms 2%dihydroxypropylamide R,=C, C mixture of tallow fatty acid, averageapproximately C R =C,,-C mixture of coconut fatty acid, average approximately C Total approximately 30 carbon atoms 90% isopropanol.

EXAMPLE 6 R1: l2 R2 n as Total 29 arbon atoms 5% dihydroxypropylamide asdescribed in Example 5 90% isopropanol.

5% glucamide EXAMPLE 7 5% glucamide as described in Example 1 5%dihydroxypropylamide as described in ethylene glycol monoethyl ether l0%tartaric acid 2% alkyl phenol plus 9.5 ethoxyl 48% water Example 8EXAMPLE 10 10% dihydroxypropylamide as described in Example 4 30%ethylene glycol monomethyl ether 2% ethoxylated dimethyl polysiloxane10% tartaric acid 48% water EXAMPLE 1 1 l0% polyglycerylamide asdescribed in Example 3 30% ethylene glycol monoethyl ether 2%ethoxylated dimethyl polysiloxane l0% gluconic acid 48% water EXAMPLE l2l0% dihydroxypropylamide as described in Example 7 30% isopropanol 2%nonylphenol plus 9.5 ethoxyl 10% amidosulfonic acid 48% water EXAMPLE l3l0% dihydroxypropylamide R, C H- R C H;

Total 29 carbon atoms 40% ethylene glycol monoethyl ether 2% nonylphenolplus 9.5 ethoxyl 1% brightening agent as described on page 26 47% waterEXAMPLE l4 5% glucamide as described in Example 5 5%dihydroxypropylamide as described in Example 8 2%N-dodecyl-N-benzyl-N-N,N-dimethylammonium chloride 88% isopropanolEXAMPLE 15 5% glucamide as described in Example 8 5%dihydroxypropylamide as described in Example 8 30% ethylene glycolmonoethyl ether 2% nonylphenol plus 9.5 ethoxyl 2%N-dodecyl-N-benzyl-N-N,N-dimethylammonium chloride 10% citric acid 46%water The preparations corresponding to Examples 1 to 4, 8 to 13, and15, are in the form of dispersions, and the preparations according toExamples 5 to 7 and 14 are in the form of clear solutions.

A number of experiments were carried out using ordinary cotton fabricsor cotton terry cloth in which the fabric samples were eashed in adrum-type washing machine using a conventional commercially availablecontrolled-suds detergent and temperatures of up to 95 C. In the finalrinse, one of the preparations described in the Examples was added in aquantity sufficient to provide a concentration of 0.3 grams of thetextile softeners per liter of washing medium. The dried cotton fabricsall had a soft feel and excellent absorbency.

We claim:

1. A composition for softening laundered textiles consisting essentiallyof Rr-IIT-C -R2 and I Ri-NCO-R2 (IT) CHg-(CHOH) ,,CH OH wherein R, is

1. alkyl of 10 to 22 carbon atoms, or I 2. alkyl of 10 to 22 carbonatoms with an ether oxygen linkage in the vicinity of the nitrogen atom,R is alkyl of seven to 21 carbon atoms, R +R have 23 to 39 carbon atoms,

Z is (1) H2-CHOH-CH2OH 2 CH2OIPIIJJHCH2OH, or

3. an ether of l) or (2) with 1 to l4-additional glyceryl radicals, andn is 3 or 4, (11) being present to the extent of about 50 to 90 percentby weight of(l) and (ll). 2. A composition according to claim 1, wherein(I) and (11) constitute about 2-30 weight percent, said composition in-3. A composition according to claim 2, wherein (I) and (II) constituteabout -15 weight percent, wherein R, has 12 to 20 carbon atoms, whereinR has I l to 19 carbon atoms, and wherein R,+R have a total of 27 to 35carbon atoms.

4. A composition according to claim 1, wherein (I) and (ii) constituteabout 5-70 weight percent, and about 30-95 weight percent of solidcarrier substance selected from the group consisting of salts ofsulfuric acid, phosphoric acids, or aliphatic carboxylic acidscontaining up to about carbon atoms, urea, acetamide and polyethyleneglycols.

5. A composition according to claim 1, including 0.5-20 weight percentof a heavy metal-free, nonoxidizing water-soluble antimicrobial agent.

6. A method for treating a textile-fabric article comprising launderingsaid article, and thereafter rinsing said article with water containingdissolved therein in the range of 0.05 to 2 grams per liter of acompound of the formula wherein: R, is

1. alkyl of 10 to 22 carbon atoms, or 2. alkyl of 10 to 22 carbon atomswith an ether oxygen linkage between either the 2 and 3 or 3 and 4carbon atoms from the nitrogen atom, R is alkyl of seven to 21 carbonatoms, R,+R have 23 to 39 carbons atoms, and

Z iS

IIzCC1IOlI-Cliz0l[ ouzoi-r-orr-o molt, or

3. an ether of l or (2) with one to 14 additional glyceryl radicals; 7.A method according to claim 6 wherein the rinse water also has dissolvedtherein a compound of the formula R1-N C 0-Rz omorromn-cmon wherein R,,R have the same meanings as in claim 6 and n is 3 or 4, the compound(II) being present to the extent of about 50 to by weight of(I) and(ii).

8. A method according to claim 7, wherein R, has 12 to 20 carbon atoms,wherein R has 11 to 19 carbon atoms, and wherein R,+R have a total of 27to 35 carbon atoms.

2. alkyl of 10 to 22 carbon atoms with an ether oxygen linkage in thevicinity of the nitrogen atom, R2 is alkyl of seven to 21 carbon atoms,R1+R2 have 23 to 39 carbon atoms,
 2. A composition according to claim 1,wherein (I) and (II) constitute about 2-30 weight percent, saidcomposition including a solvent selected from the group consisting ofwater, a water-soluble organic solvent and a mixture of water andwater-soluble organic solvent, said water-soluble organic solvent beingselected from the group consisting of unsubstituted aliphatic monohydricalcohols of one to four carbon atoms, ether alcohols formed by thereaction of said aliphatic alcohols with a glycol selected from thegroup consisting of ethylene glycol, propylene glycol, butylene glycoland diethylene glycol, water-soluble lower ketones and monoethers anddiethers formed by reacting said unsubstituted aliphatic monohydricalcohols with glycerine.
 2. alkyl of 10 to 22 carbon atoms with an etheroxygen linkage between either the 2 and 3 or 3 and 4 carbon atoms fromthe nitrogen atom, R2 is alkyl of seven to 21 carbon atoms, R1+R2 have23 to 39 carbons atoms, and
 3. an ether of (1) or (2) with one to 14additional glyceryl radicals.
 7. A method according to claim 6 whereinthe rinse water also has dissolved therein a compound of the formulawherein R1, R2 have the same meanings as in claim 6 and n is 3 or 4, thecompound (II) being present to the extent of about 50 to 90% by weightof (I) and (II).
 3. an ether of (1) or (2) with 1 to 14 additionalglyceryl radicals, and n is 3 or 4, (II) being present to the extent ofabout 50 to 90 percent by weight of (I) and (II).
 3. A compositionaccording to claim 2, wherein (I) and (II) constitute about 5-15 weightpercent, wherein R1 has 12 to 20 carbon atoms, wherein R2 has 11 to 19carbon atoms, and wherein R1+R2 have a total of 27 to 35 carbon atoms.4. A composition according to claim 1, wherein (I) and (II) constituteabout 5-70 weight percent, and about 30-95 weight percent of solidcarrier substance selected from the group consisting of salts ofsulfuric acid, phosphoric acids, or aliphatic carboxylic acidscontaining up to about 10 carbon atoms, urea, acetamide and polyethyleneglycols.
 5. A composition according to claim 1, including 0.5-20 weightpercent of a heavy metal-free, nonoxidizing water-soluble antimicrobialagent.
 6. A method for treating a textile-fabric article comprisinglaundering said article, and thereafter rinsing said article with watercontaining dissolved therein in the range of 0.05 to 2 grams per literof a compound of the formula wherein: R1 is
 8. A method according toclaim 7, wherein R1 has 12 to 20 carbon atoms, wherein R2 has 11 to 19carbon atoms, and wherein R1+R2 have a total of 27 to 35 carbon atoms.